Levka sat down beside her with his elbows on his knees. She watched the way his jaw clenched as he stared straight ahead. He rubbed his knuckles, bruised and a little torn.
“Luerna,” he began softly. “I’m in love with you. There is nothing that you can do or say to stop me. Believe me, I’ve tried. It would be easier and safer for both of us if I could move on and forget you. But I can’t; I just want to stop fighting it. Can you at least meet me at that point?”
Luerna nodded, hoping she could but unsure what that would require of her.
“Accept it, sunshine. I’m not going anywhere. No matter how much you push me away. How you try to convince me you don’t deserve it. I won’t go. Every day, I want only to breathe the same air you breathe.”
Luerna blinked the tears out of her eyes before she rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry,”
“What I want in return is not what you think. It would be amazing if you felt the same way. If you wanted me the way I wanted you. Of course, that’s always a hope.”
There was a pause there, and Luerna knew it was the moment she should share her devotion to him, but she found herself speechless. She didn’t know what she felt.
“What I want, Luerna, is for you to be happy.”
Her brows knit, and another wave of tears attacked her like a tidal wave, and she slapped a hand against her mouth to keep it from exploding.
“Five years you have been struggling, and you keep telling me and everyone around you that you’re fine.” Levka wrapped an arm around her, pulling her body into his chest so she couldn’t run. “But you’re not, sunshine. And I’m sorry to tell you, you’re not. I know you better than anyone. So please, I need you to get help.” Her sobs overtook the room, and he held onto her like she could slip away. Her body shook with every sound, and he didn’t move, his chin on top of her head and his eyes on the wall ahead. He didn’t want to do this; he didn’t want to push her over, but she had been denying what was going on for too many years. He kept thinking that if he could get her out of hell, she’d be happy, but the more he spoke to her, the more he realized it wasn’t just the surface. It was deep, like melanoma cancer, sinking its roots around her heart and slowly killing her. She was the only one who could dig it out, but she had to want to. The only thing he could do was wait.
Even if it was painful.
Chapter seventeen
Tonight
Levkawoke,andthebed was empty, but he heard the shower and relaxed. He rolled over to his feet, groaning as he did so, holding his ribs with a tight jaw. The burn was worse than a stab wound. It’s not as bad as a gunshot wound, but it’s definitely up there on the top ten worst pains. Glancing at his watch, it was just in time for their date. He hoped she liked the dress he picked out. The servant had already left his clothes on the back end of a chair. He hated how deep of a sleeper he was. His father always made him aware of how he could sleep through an earthquake.
When the shower shut off, Levka left the bedroom to give her privacy. He dressed in the living room in jeans and a black t-shirt.
Luerna suddenly showed up in the doorway in only a towel. Her wet hair was dripping down, and panic was in her gaze. He uneasily stood up from tying his shoe.
“I thought you left.”
He gave a smirk. “How am I supposed to take you out if I left?”
“We’re still going?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”
She turned to go back into the bedroom but then stayed, confused.
The expression got him curious. “What?”
“We’re in a hotel room; I’m in a towel. Isn’t that the point of a date? To get me in bed?”
Levka took up a bag of chips. “Baby, if that’s all I wanted, I could have had you multiple times all these years.”
“Oh really? You think I’m that easy?”
“I think I’m that good.”
She huffed. “Conceited much?”
He cackled, winking. “Get dressed. We’re gonna be late.”
“For what?”
“My reservations.”
